With over 20 years of experience covering the Steelers for the Observer-Reporter, Dale Lolley will let you know the insider scoop. Dale can also be heard on the Steelers radio network pre-game show on WDVE-FM game days and Tuesday nights from 6 to 8 p.m. on ESPN 970-AM and WDVE during the season as a host of the Antonio Brown Show. Follow him on Twitter at @dlolleyor

New England threw the ball on 25 consecutive plays against the Steelers in that game, a 30-14 Patriots’ victory, was strangely reminiscent of Sunday’s 34-13 win at Gillette Stadium.

New England had quarterback Tom Brady drop back to pass on 33 consecutive plays. That’s right, the Patriots dropped back to pass 33 consecutive times, including their first 26 plays of the second half.

Until their final possession of the game, when they were just trying to burn some clock, Tom Brady attempted to pass on every play, throwing 25 times and scrambling for a four-yard gain on another.

It was a game plan that rendered the strength of the Pittsburgh defense, its front seven, totally useless.

For most of the game, Pro Bowl nose tackle Casey Hampton stood on the sidelines watching. Backup defensive end Nick Eason got more snaps in the second half than Hampton did as Pittsburgh countered by playing a lot of nickel.

And Brady was getting rid of the ball so quickly, the Steelers rarely even pressured him.

In fact, the Steelers failed to register a sack Sunday and had just four pressures.

That’s not going to get it done.

Perhaps getting Troy Polamalu back for a possible rematch in the playoffs – Playoffs? Did you say playoffs? – will make a difference.

With Polamalu back, the Steelers can play more dime, with Tyrone Carter coming in as the deep safety and William Gay staying on the sidelines. And Pittsburgh can also go with its big nickel as well, with a line of Brett Keisel, Aaron Smith, Hampton and Chris Hoke.

In fact, I’m not sure why we didn’t see that formation Sunday. Hampton and Hoke may have been able to use their bulk to push the pocket up in Brady’s face.

Jacksonville is a team that could quite possible come to Heinz Field in the playoffs in the opening round.

And the Steelers have to prove they can be effective against the Jacksonville defense, which totally shut Pittsburgh down in a meeting last season.

In fact, a victory by the Steelers Sunday would drop the Jaguars into a tie with Cleveland for the top wildcard spot in the AFC.

Not to mention, Sunday’s loss puts the Steelers just a game ahead of Cleveland in the AFC North standings.

Given that the Browns finish up with games at home against Buffalo and San Francisco sandwiched around a game at Cincinnati, Cleveland could very well finish at 11-5.

Pittsburgh holds the tiebreaker over Cleveland, but a loss to Jacksonville would also be the Steelers’ fourth conference loss and open the possibility that they could fall to the No. 4 seed in the AFC playoffs.

San Diego has a 7-3 conference record and still has to host Detroit and Denver before finishing up its season at Oakland in three very winnable games.

And, of course, the fourth seed in the playoffs – should it win its playoff opener – stands a good shot of having to go to Gillette Stadium to face the Patriots, who will be coming off a bye.

6 comments:

adamg
said...

Dale, several thoughts...

One I hope the Steelers don't put Aaron Smith on IR, but if they do, then I hope they promote Scott Paxsonto the 53 man roster. All Paxson did for 3 years at Penn St was start at DT, rarely come off the field and make plays. A lot like Lamarr Woodley did at Michigan.

Second, I believe the Steelers are in a transition year on both offense and defense. I think that's why they aren't doing a lot of things some of us would like to see.

Frustration, Dale. How frustrated were you watching this team on Sunday? I couldn't believe my eyes. We weren't getting pressure, we weren't tackling well, we weren't even being physical with Brady or the Pats receivers. I would have even accepted a roughing the passer penalty if anyone had even attempted to hit Brady.

The Offense was a bright spot for the most part. But the end around call was just unnecessary. I'm no offensive coordinator, but if I'm going for it on 4th down when I'm down by 11(which I believe we were at the time) and we've just converted two 4th downs pounding the football through, I'm calling either a handoff to Najeh Davenport or a Big Ben sneak. At least then we could say "it was the right call." Plus, the play before that to Santonio - that would've been ok had we snapped the ball 3 or 4 seconds before we did. I'm sure we all noticed Santonio uncovered out there but by the time we got the snap off, Rodney "Roids" Harrison had already trotted over to cover him.

That all said, my question is - do you think the Steelers were intentionally holding back, thinking we may see them again in the playoffs?

I wasn't frustrated at all. Despite what some NE fans have written to me this week, I'm not a Steelers fan. I'm a reporter.I try hard to call them the way I see them.That game got away from them when they came out and blew their opening drive of the second half and New England hit the throwback pass.